Tuesday, May 31, 2016

How long have you been a vegan? I've been a vegan for a little over a year now and as time passes, I become more and more happy with the decision.

Was the transition easy? Yes, the transition was easy for me, I was vegetarian for a little bit prior to… I'm not saying I haven't had any difficult times with certain aspects of the transition but overall, it went smoothly.

It was a no-brainer for me when I started getting deeper into the science of how the body works and how the foods we consume affect EVERY aspect of our health. I was always interested in the sciences throughout my years in school, but my ongoing independent studies since I've graduated from college have afforded me much more applicable information, especially in terms of my daily regimen.

Any tips/advice for someone interested in being a vegan? TAKE IT SLOW!!! Especially if you're used to eating 3+ meals a day with meat & cheese, you've never fasted, and/or you've never read a nutrition label before purchasing a food item at the grocery store. These are examples of things that I suggest one gets accustomed to before making any major lifestyle change regarding diet.

And DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! Since the explosion of the internet and the constant increase in the number of people with smartphones, not knowing something is no longer a legitimate excuse, PERIOD!! There are people in this world that are generating tons of profit from our ignorance and the best way to defend ourselves from being exploited in that regard is to study!

Black male vegans/vegetarians are rare but seems to be growing in popularity. Why do you think that is? Because of me LOL jk nah, but I think people are beginning to wake up and realize the importance of diet in overall health. Social media deserves credit for this as well. We can't continue the cycle and live the way our parents and grandparents lived during their younger years, it's a new era. The world is changing far too quickly for us to remain the same.

Whether it's just the trendy, 20-something day challenge or a full transition to veganism, there's obviously a major shift in consciousness going on which is especially crucial in these trying times where black people lead all other races in the major disease categories like heart disease and diabetes. I really say all of that to say that it isn't necessarily about going vegan/vegetarian, it's more about taking our health more seriously in general because that's all we have at the end of the day.

Vegans are sometimes known for being extreme. What's the one thing you want people to know about vegans? Not all vegans are animal lovers. I am not a vegan because I'm trying to save the animals, I'm a vegan because I'm trying to save myself, my family, and my people. I've done the research and understand that a plant-based diet is simply the best ting for our health, but I also understand it isn't realistic for everyone to go vegan. That's why my number one priority is getting more people interested in taking their health more seriously. After we get ourselves together, then we can focus on the animals.

Has it had an impact in other areas of your life? YOU GUESSED IT!!! Haha, it most definitely has. My energy levels are through the roof and my mind has never been so clear. I tell people all the time but it's easier when people can see results rather than hear someone talking about it, so you have to show them what it is.

Is there anything you like to add? Let's make this health thing the cool thing to do, that's what it's all about for me. If we can change the trend, we can change the world! You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @JermScorsese